Abstract
HERBERT CHATLEY has given in a paper on “Egyptian Astronomy” (J. Egypt Archœol., 26, 120; 1940) certain conclusions regarding the various figures found in the Egyptian “celestial diagram”, of which nearly twentycopies from the Eleventh Dynasty down to Roman times are in existence. The general deductions that have been made about the figures are included under eight categories, but limits of space do not permit any detailed description; those who are interested in Egyptian archaeology will find it profitable to study the paper carefully. It is difficult to discover from reading the account of the constellations, Dekanal Band (the dekanswere 10–day stars from the helical risings of which the ten–day week of the Egyptian year was marked), Meta–Dekans, etc., how much astronomical knowledge the Egyptians really possessed. Popular belief credits ancient Egypt with extensive knowledge, but archæological research scarcely supports this view in the realm of astronomy. The records show very little regarding the actual observations of their inventors, and many of them are of a magical or religious nature the object of which was to protect or assist the dead. The author has previously expressed the opinion that the dekanal lists were revised about the beginning of the New Kingdom, about 1600 B.C., and he conjectures that the celestial diagram was invented then as a talisman which concentrated the power of the heavenly bodies into one form.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Egyptian Astronomy. Nature 148, 193 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/148193c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/148193c0